08 December,2010 09:16 AM IST | | IANS
Pakistan's suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohd Asif and Mohd Amir face an uphill task at next month's full hearing to be conducted by an independent tribunal appointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told IANS that the three players will most likely be found guilty of association with match-fixers and face life bans. A recent statement by ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat suggested that the game's governing body will seal the case in its favour and also indicated that the ICC has gathered solid proof against the trio, who will face the tribunal in Doha January 6.
According to sources, most of the evidence gathered against the players is in the form of recorded telephone calls and text messages which will prove their association with match-fixers. They were provisionally suspended last September after allegations of corruption were hurled at them by News of The World. The tabloid alleged that Asif and Amir bowled deliberate no-balls on the instructions of match-fixers. Sources said that Salman and Asif will be handed life bans if proved guilty but the tribunal could show some mercy for Amir (18) and he could walk away with a ban of two to five years.
